ALDS Preview - Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees

The moves paid off, as the Yanks return to the postseason after winning the AL East for the 10th time in the last 12 years with a major league best 103 wins.

Minnesota, meanwhile, needed an extra day, but won its first AL Central crown since 2006 with an unbelievably thrilling, 6-5, extra inning victory over the Detroit Tigers at the Metrodome.

The win capped an incredible few weeks for the Twins, who enter the playoffs having won five straight, 11 of 14 and 17 of their past 21 games - all without former AL MVP Justin Morneau.

Minnesota, which was seven games out of first place on Labor Day, is also the first team to claim a postseason berth trailing by three with four games to play.

Despite the heroics, though, the Twins enter this ALDS matchup as a huge underdog against the Yankees, a team that has beaten them twice in the postseason.

New York also had its way with the Twins in the regular season, going a perfect 7-0 against them.

LINEUP

There is no secret as to why New York is in the position that it is and that is its incredible lineup.

The Yankees finished the season with the most home runs in the American League, a franchise record 244, the most runs scored (915), most RBI (881), top slugging percentage (.478), top on-base percentage (.362) and tied with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the most hits in the league with 1,604.

New York had seven players top 20 home runs with Derek Jeter coming close to that mark with 18.

Teixeira more than lived up to his exorbitant contract, as he put up MVP-type numbers at the plate and in the field, where he played a Gold Glove caliber first base. Offensively, though, is where he really flourished, as he tied for the league lead with 39 home runs and drove in a team-high 122 runs to go along with a .292 average.

To be fair, though, Teixeira, as well as the potent New York lineup, really did not get it going at the plate until Rodriguez returned from hip surgery on May 8.

Despite missing more than a month of the season, Rodriguez posted his 12th straight season of at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI thanks to a scintillating two homer, seven RBI performance in the Yankees' season finale against Tampa Bay.

Fans in New York are hoping that sets the stage for a big October for Rodriguez, who, of course, has been plagued by the notion - warranted or not - that he cannot get it done on the big stage, particularly in the playoffs. .

Rodriguez, though, seems to be a different player and with Teixeira hitting in front of him could be poised for a monster postseason. However, the fact remains he is just 7-for-44 in the Yanks' last three playoff series - all first round losses - with one meaningless solo home run and RBI.

Derek Jeter enjoyed a bounce-back season, as he scored 107 runs and hit .334 from the leadoff spot, while moving past Lou Gehrig as the franchise leader in hits along the way. Unlike Rodriguez, Jeter has thrived in the playoffs, hitting .309 in 123 games.

There is not an easy out anywhere in the lineup. In addition to the three named above, Johnny Damon, Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher, Melky Cabrera, Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui all enjoyed terrific seasons.

Swisher, acquired this offseason from Chicago for seldom-used utility man Wilson Betemit, clocked in with a lineup-low average of .249, but made up for it with a .367 on-base-percentage, as well as 28 home runs and 90 RBI.

While not as prolific as the Yankees, the Twins enter the postseason with a lineup that is clicking on all cylinders right now.

Heading the charge is catcher Joe Mauer, who was the league's batting champion with a .365 average, and should be an easy winner once the MVP Award is handed out.

Despite missing more than a month of the season, Mauer put up the best power numbers of his career, belting 28 home runs with 96 RBI. His previous career- high in home runs was 13 back in 2006.

Most people felt the Twins were done when Morneau went down with a stress fracture in his back. That, though, is when it all turned around and his replacement, Michael Cuddyer, has been a big reason behind the team's resurgence.

Delmon Young and Jason Kubel have also done their part in helping Morneau carry the load offensively.

Minnesota's lineup may not have the star power of the Yankees', but they get the job done with the likes of unheralded players such as Matt Tolbert, Denard Span and Orlando Cabrera, who will be playing in the postseason for the fifth time in the last six years with his fourth different team.

EDGE: YANKEES

STARTING PITCHING

Sabathia was everything the Yankees hoped he would be, as went 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA, while going undefeated in 11 starts (8-0) through August and September.

The big lefty, though, has struggled in the postseason in the past, going 2-3 with a 7.92 ERA in his five starts. However, he hasn't had to expend himself late in the season, as he has had to in the past leading up to the playoffs.

Going for the Yankees in Game 2 will be Burnett, who enjoyed an up and down first season in the Bronx. At times Burnett looked unhittable, but other times left you scratching your head, as he finished they year 13-9 with a 4.04 ERA.

An interesting aside here, the Yankees plan on having Jose Molina catch Burnett in Game 2, meaning Jorge Posada's bat will be on the bench. Burnett preferred throwing to Molina throughout the season and the numbers indicated as much. Opposing hitters are batting .270 off Burnett in his 16 starts that Posada caught, and just .221 in 11 starts with Molina..

Molina caught Burnett in his last six starts and he surrendered two runs or less in all of them but one, going 3-1 in that span.

In Game 3 the Yankees will turn to old reliable in lefty Andy Pettitte, who had a great season, posting a 14-8 ledger to go along with a 4.16 ERA. Of course, Pettitte always seems to dial it up come postseason time, and owns a 14-9 lifetime mark in the playoffs with a 3.96 ERA in 35 starts.

The Twins will counter Sabathia in Game 1 with rookie Brian Duensing, who was 5-2 with a 3.64 ERA.

Scott Baker started Tuesday's playoff and probably won't be able to go until Game 3, so Ron Gardenhire will likely hand the ball to either Carl Pavano or Nick Blackburn in Game 2 on Friday.

Blackburn was 11-11, but was unbeaten over his final four starts, allowing two runs or less in each of those outings. Pavano, meanwhile, could be a disaster in the Bronx after spending four tumultuous seasons there. Gardenhire may opt to save him until the series gets back to Minnesota.

Pavano went 5-4 after being acquired from Cleveland and won three of his last four decisions. He is also the only Twins starter with any postseason experience, albeit limited. Pavano was 2-0 in the 2003 NLDS for the Marlins, pitching to a 1.40 in eight games that postseason.

EDGE: YANKEES

BULLPEN

There has never been a better postseason pitcher than Mariano Rivera. And this year he may be even better since right-hander Phil Hughes could be the best setup man the Yankees have had since, well, Rivera handled the job for John Wetteland in 1996.

Hughes' insertion into the bullpen, along with the return of Rodriguez, really turned things around for the Yankees, as he was 5-1 with three saves in 44 relief appearances, while pitching to a 1.40 ERA. He also struck out 65 batters in 51 1/3 innings of relief and served as the perfect bridge to Rivera.

If Hughes does his job, there is nobody better in the ninth in the playoffs than the great Rivera. In 76 games, Rivera is 8-1 with 34 saves and a unthinkable 0.77 ERA. In his 31 ALDS appearances, Rivera is 2-0 with 15 saves and a 0.38 ERA.

The 39-year-old righty showed some more chinks in his armor this season and was 3-3 with 44 saves and a 1.76 ERA. However, he did surrender a career-high seven home runs.

Rivera could also have Joba Chamberlain as a setup man. Chamberlain, of course, burst on the scene in 2007 as an electrifying reliever, but has struggled as a reliever. Girardi hasn't stated what Chamberlain's role would be, but the smart money is on him handing the ball to Hughes in the eighth.

Also expected to chip in for the Yanks will be righties Alfredo Aceves and David Robertson, as well as left-hander Phil Coke.

If Rivera is the best closer in the American League, Minnesota's Joe Nathan is a close second.

Nathan was his usual reliable self in 2009, saving a career-best 47 games. He also had a big hand in Tuesday's win, working 1 2/3 scoreless innings, while working out of a jam in the ninth that saw the Tigers put runners on first and third with no outs.

Setting him up will be righties Jon Rauch, Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier, as well as left-handers Ron Mahay and perhaps Francisco Liriano.

EDGE: YANKEES

MANAGERS

To say Girardi had some huge shoes to fill when he took this job at the start of last season may be one of the biggest understatements of all-time. When he missed the playoffs last year, some people felt he would be shown the door. The Steinbrenners, though, to their credit, stuck by him and he has rewarded them. However, this will be the first playoff appearance for the former National League Manager of the Year and if his team falters in the first round, he very well may be on the unemployment line.

Girardi will probably come up short in Manager of the Year voting to his counterpart in this series, Ron Gardenhire. Despite being handcuffed by salary constraints, Gardenhire gets the most out of this Twins team year-in and year-out.

Gardenhire, who's been at the helm for all five of the Twins' recent division titles, gets the edge here because of his playoff experience, of which Girardi has none as a manager.

EDGE: TWINS

BENCH

The Yankees enter the postseason with their deepest bench in years with the likes of the versatile Jerry Hairston, the speedy Brett Gardner and the slugging Eric Hinske. Freddy Guzman will also be counted on as a pinch-runner late in games.

The Twins also possess a solid bench with the likes of Alexi Casilla and Brendan Harris.

EDGE: YANKEES

PROGNOSIS

Wrong place, wrong time for the Twins. I know the Twins come into this thing as hot as any team in baseball, and that the Yankees have had trouble getting past the first round in recent years, but this is a different team. Just look at the starting pitching matchups. New York's lineup is going to feast on the likes of Blackburn and Pavano. Some people may say I am crazy, but Alex Rodriguez is going to be a monster this postseason and it will start here. People love the history of the Metrodome, but unfortunately Twins fans are going to be using those hankies to wipe away their tears on Sunday.

Prediction: YANKEES in THREE

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